Police, community and calendar briefs for Jan. 23, 2013

Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 5:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 5:58 p.m.

A Morriston man accused of exposing himself to a 12-year-old boy inside a bathroom stall Sunday was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition.

The victim told Officer Aaron German with the Dunnellon Police Department that he was using the middle stall in the restroom at the Walmart store at 11012 N. Williams St. when he saw a man leave the stall to his left, look around and enter the stall to his right. He said the man slid underneath the stall and exposed himself.

The minor described the suspect to store employees and a manager was notified. Before anyone could confront the man, he got into a vehicle and drove away. Police were given a description of the vehicle and tracked it to an address in Morriston.

Officers Michael Miley and Scott Houts met Marion County Sheriff's Office Sgt. David Hopkins at the residence, located just beyond the Marion/Levy county border, and talked with Alexander Reed Clary, 54.

Clary told them he used the store restroom Sunday, but denied committing the offense.

Clary was arrested and taken to the Levy County Jail, where he remained Tuesday on $75,000 bond.

State records show Clary has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for grand theft and forgery. In December 2010, he was released from prison after serving time for possession of methamphetamine.

Waffle House fire prompts evacuation

The Waffle House at 3871 SW College Road was closed Tuesday morning because of a small kitchen fire.

Employees were cooking sausage and bacon on the grill when the fire erupted. They quickly evacuated five customers and called 911.

Ocala Fire Rescue received the dispatch at 10:55 a.m. and arrived on scene at 10:59 a.m. Fire officials extinguished the fire.

None of the six employees working at the time were injured.

A city of Ocala fire inspector arrived to investigate and was in touch with the state Division of Hotels and Restaurants.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was expected that the restaurant would reopen later that evening.

Report: Man had sex with teen girl

A 21-year-old man was charged Monday with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery after admitting he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.

The teenager told Detective Frank Scala at Kimberly's Center for Child Protection that on Sunday she agreed to meet Chad Stuart Lehman, who she met on Facebook, so he picked her up and drove her to his home.

She said Lehman gave her some shorts to put on, which she did, and the two of them watched television in his bedroom. She said he began kissing her and removed her clothing even though she told him she did not want to have sex. She said they had intercourse two times.

Scala then interviewed Lehman, who said he had sex with the girl. Lehman was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, from which he later was released on $30,000 bond.

Jail records show Lehman had been arrested and released two days earlier on a charge of criminal mischief.

Authorities looking for robbery suspect

Sheriff's detectives are looking for the man who robbed a gas station Sunday night.

Officials said the suspect entered the Diamond Oil at 3380 SE Lake Weir Ave. and showed the clerk a gun and demanded cash. He received some money and fled on foot.

The incident was reported shortly before 7:30 p.m.

The robber, described as a black man who stands, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and may be in his late teens or early 20s, was wearing black sweat pants, a black hoodie, white gloves and a mask that covered the lower half of his face.

The same station was robbed by a lone gunman wearing light pants, a dark hoodie and a mask in early November 2012.

It is not known if the two cases are related.

Anyone with information can call Marion County Sheriff's Office Detective TJ Watts at 368-3539 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Motorcyclist still in critical condition

A motorcyclist injured in an early morning accident a week ago remains hospitalized.

Suzanne Santangelo, spokeswoman for Ocala Regional Medical Center, said Tuesday that Joseph Phillip Romeo remained in critical condition at the hospital.

The 22-year-old Anthony man was taken to the facility after the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX 10 he was riding on Northwest Gainesville Road collided with a dump truck attempting to turn left onto Northwest 63rd Street.

The motorcycle was pinned under the truck's wheel. Romeo was wearing a helmet, officials said.

The driver of the truck, 57-year-old Randy Soucie of Summerfield, said he did not see the motorcyclist. Soucie was not injured.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers who are investigating the crash said Tuesday their investigation is ongoing and that no charges had been filed in the case.

COMMUNITY

Friday picnic will benefit veterans

Highland Memorial Park is hosting a charity picnic from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at 1515 NE Third St., Ocala, to benefit the Marion County Veterans Council.

Lunch will be served on a donation basis with all proceeds going to the council.

Marion County Veterans Services and the local chapter of the Military Chaplains Association will hold a Four Chaplains memorial ceremony from 3 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 SE Fort King St., Ocala.

The ceremony marks the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the troopship USAT Dorchester and the deaths of four heroic chaplains.

The services are for those with no medical insurance who have not seen an eye doctor within the last year. Reservations are required.

Call 873-7300.

Environmental awareness contest

The Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club is seeking high school, college-age and community affiliated groups for a competition with the theme Water Conservation — Reducing Use and Preventing Pollution.

The best three- to five-minute video will receive $500; best essay or poetry of 300-1,000 words will receive $400; best music recording of three to five minutes will receive $300; and best mixed media, poster and brochure will receive $300.